Chapter 2 Vocab

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

Question 2

Constitutional Convention

Answer 2

A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution.

Question 3

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 3

A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes.

Question 4

Virginia Plan

Answer 4

Proposal to create a strong national government.

Question 5

New Jersey Plan

Answer 5

Proposal to create a weak national government.

Question 6

Great Compromise

Answer 6

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state.

Question 7

Republic

Answer 7

A government in which elected representatives make the decisions.

Question 8

Judicial review

Answer 8

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Question 9

Federalism

Answer 9

Government authority shared by national and local governments.

Question 10

Enumerated powers

Answer 10

Powers given to the national government alone.

Question 11

Reserved powers

Answer 11

Powers given to the state government alone.

Question 12

Concurrent powers

Answer 12

Powers shared by the national and state governments.

Question 13

Checks and balances

Answer 13

Authority shared by three branches of government.

Question 14

Separation of powers

Answer 14

Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government.

Question 15

Faction

Answer 15

A group with a distinct political interest.

Question 16

Federalists

Answer 16

Those who favor a stronger national government.

Question 17

Antifederalists

Answer 17

Those who favor a weaker national government.

Question 18

Coalition

Answer 18

An alliance of groups.

Question 19

Bill of Rights

Answer 19

First ten amendments to the Constitution.

Question 20

Habeas corpus

Answer 20

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.

Question 21

Bill of attainder

Answer 21

A law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime.

Question 22

Ex post facto law

Answer 22

A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed.

Question 23

Amendments

Answer 23

A new provision in the Constitution that has been ratified by the states.

Question 24

Line-item veto

Answer 24

An executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature.

Question 25

Unalienable

Answer 25

A human right based on nature or God.